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P. THOMAS. PAD FOR HRSES FEET.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK THOMAS, OFVSORANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID B. HAND, OF SAME PLACE.

PAD FOR HORSES FEET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 576,522, dated February 2, 1897.

Application filed July 10,1896. Serial No. 598,769. -CNo model.) I A To all whom it may concern:

zen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soaking and Driving Pads for Horses Feet; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to soaking and driving pads for horses feet; and it' consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom view of a horses foot provided with a horseshoe and with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same,and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of myimproved pad disconnected from a horses foot.

My improved pad is designed either for soaking or driving purposes, and Yto, adapt it for both of these purposes it is necessary that the pad should be so constructed as to hold moisture a considerable length of time and also be securely held to the shoe at a number of points and yet be capable of ready attachment and removal. Pads have been constructed which have been capable of being secured to a horses foot, but all of them have not been so constructed that they could be used as a soaking pad and at the same time were strongly enough secured to the foot as to stand the hard usage of driving without becoming detached from the foot.

My improved pad consists of a body portionA A, constructed of any suitable absorbent material, preferably felt, and cut into a suitable shape to adapt it to be tightly litted into the space inclosed by the horseshoe.

B represents a spring, which is made from a single piece of metal and bent into the shape shown, so as to form lateral looped projections b b and a long loop b. This spring is secured permanently to the bottom or ground-surface of the pad and held in proper position by means of a large-headed rivet b2, as shown.

O represents an independent U shaped spring, which is bent into the form of a rectangular loop, having its forward ends bent laterally, as at c c, for a purpose to be presentlydescribed. This spring is secured to the ground side of the pad by means of rivets near the heel end, or in any other suitable manner, and extends forward approximately the entire length of the pad.

D represents a fastening toeplate, which is provided with alongitudinal slot d. The rivet b2 passes through the slot d, and thus holds the plate in position and at the same time permits the plate to move longitudinally back and forth, as will be presently described. The oflice of this adjustable toe-plate isim portant, for if the pad when applied to the horses foot does not completely fill the space inclosed by the shoe, and the pad does not fully reach the toe end of the shoe, the toe-piece can be readily slid forward between the hoof and the under side of the shoe. l

By the employment of two independent springs B and C, in the event of one spring getting out of order, or for any reason it is desired to remove one spring, it can be done or another spring inserted without disturbing the other spring. But amore important result is secured in that the pad can be fastened onto the foot at five different points around the shoe, thereby more securely holding the, pad in position around the shoe and rendering it less liable to become detached therefrom, and also holding the pad more snugly against the frog of the foot and keeping the parts cooledvwhen the pad is being used for soaking purposes, and preventing gravel and dirt getting into the hoof when the pad is used while driving. Itis essential that the pad be well pressed up againstthe frog and thatit be well secured all around its edges to the shoe.

The pad is applied to the foot as follows: Vhen it is to be used for soaking purposes, to reduce fever or relieve pain in the foot or leg, it is first thoroughly soaked with water or some medicated preparation. Then the pad is placed in the space inclosed by the shoe and the toe-plate, if desired, slid between the hoof and the shoe at the toe. Then the spring O is compressed by having its ends brought toward each other, and the laterallyeXtendiu g ends are then allowed to slip under IOO the shoe. Next the looped spring B is similarly compressed until it falls within l:he space inclosed by the shoe, when it'is released and allowed to spring under the shoe.

From the foregoing specification it will be seen that the device is simple in construction and not liable to get out of order and can bc applied to and detached from a shoe without any diiculty.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters `Patent, is-

l. A soaking or driving pad fol-horses" feet, comprising in its construction a main body portion constructed of a suitable absorbent material cut into such shape and size as to iit snugly into the space inclosed by the horseshoe, a looped spring attached to the groundsnrface of the pad and provided with lateral projections, and a longitudinally-adjustable toe-piece also secured to said pad for holding the pad in position against the foot, substantially as described.

2. A soaking or driving pad for a horses foot, comprising in its construction a main body portion constructed of a suitable absorbent material cut into such shape and size as to Iit snugl yin the space inclosed by the horseshoe, a looped spring attached to the groundsurface of the pad and provided with lateral projections, and an approximately U-shaped spring extending approximately the entire length of the pad and provided with lateral projections at its forward ends, substantially as described.

3. A soaking and driving pad for a horses foot, comprising in its construction a main body portion constructed of a suitable absorbent material cut into shape and size to it snugly in the space inclosed by the horseshoe, a looped spring attached to the pad and provided with lateral projections, an approximately U-shaped spring extending approximately the entire length of the pad and provided with lateral projections at its forward ends, and a longitudinally-adjustable tocplate provided with a longitudinal slot, and a rivet passed through the slot in the plate for securing it in position and guiding its movement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

hi FRANK XS THOMAS.

mark lVitnesses:

W. W. BAYLOR, C. II. SOPER. 

